Ahsan Manzil is one of the most significant cultural heritage sites of Bangladesh. It is situated at Kumartoli in Dhaka, on the bank of the Buriganga river. This site was the residence and kachari (office) of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Every day, people from home and abroad visit Ahsan Manzil to witness this rich culture and architectural monument.
History of Ahsan Manzil
The establishment of Ahsan Manzil takes us back to the Mughal era. Sheikh Enayetullah, the Zamindar of Jamalpur Pargana, established the property as a garden and residence called Rangmahal. After his death, the property was sold to French traders.
In 1839, Khwaja Alimullah purchased it from the French and turned it into a home and family mosque. After his demise, his son Khwaja Abdul Ghani named it after his own son, Khwaja Ahsanullah. The palace went through renovation from 1859 to 1872.
When Ahsanullah passed away, there were family conflicts regarding the property. Later, it was even converted into a slum under the East Bengal Requisition Estate Act.
After a series of natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, and the negligence of owners, the Government of Bangladesh acquired the property in 1952. To preserve this culture, reconstruction started in 1985, and in 1992 it began its journey as a museum. Ownership has now been transferred to the Bangladesh National Museum.
Ahsan Manzil and Its Beautiful Interior
Ahsan Manzil is a two-storied palace, established on a raised platform of 1 meter, measuring 125.4m by 28.75m. The height of the ground floor is 5 meters and the first floor is 5.8 meters. The interior has two sections: Rangmahal and Andarmahal.
Rangmahal is the eastern structure with a vault, housing an enormous sitting space, library, stateroom, drawing room, card room, and visitors’ rooms. Andarmahal is the western side with parlors, comprising an assembly hall, private rooms, and the Hindustani Room. The eating lobby and darbars are decorated with royal white, yellow, and green earthenware tiles.
The high octagonal arch is in the focal round room of Ahsan Manzil. The drawing room and the Jalshaghor have an exquisite wooden roof. The palace’s pink exterior and royal interior transport visitors into the world of the Nawabs.
Visiting Hours of Ahsan Manzil
Visiting hours vary depending on the season – Summer, Winter, and Ramadan.
Summer (April to September)
| Day | Opening Hour | Closing Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | 5:30 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 5:30 PM |
| Monday | 10:30 AM | 5:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM | 5:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM | 5:30 PM |
| Thursday | CLOSED | |
| Friday | 3:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Winter (October to March)
| Day | Opening Hour | Closing Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Monday | 9:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | CLOSED | |
| Friday | 2:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
Ramadan
| Day | Opening Hour | Closing Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Monday | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Thursday | CLOSED | |
| Friday | CLOSED | |
Off Days of Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil stays open 6 days a week. Thursday is the weekly holiday. The palace also stays closed during government holidays, and during Ramadan it observes an additional weekly holiday on Friday. It also stays closed on the day of Eid and the day before Eid.
Ahsan Manzil Ticket Price
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Bangladeshi Adults | 40 BDT |
| Bangladeshi Children | 20 BDT |
| Foreigners from SAARC countries | 300 BDT (per adult) |
| Foreigners (other) | 500 BDT (per adult) |
Note: A service charge of 4% applies to all ticket categories.
Online Ticket System of Ahsan Manzil
Most people struggle to buy tickets for Ahsan Manzil online, but the process is actually simple:
- Go to the official Ahsan Manzil ticketing website and click on “Buy Tickets.” Register using your information – once registered, you can buy again later using the same email and password.
- Click on “Purchase eTicket.” Select your visit date and the number of tickets. Click “Add” once done, or “Add more Tickets” to buy more.
- Go to “Make Payment” to complete payment using Visa, MasterCard, bKash, Nagad, Rocket, debit/credit card, local online banking, or mCash.
- After payment, click “Print Ticket” to get your ticket. During ticket checking, you can show the digital copy or provide the ticket number.
Conclusion
Ahsan Manzil is often called the Pink Palace of Bangladesh. If you’re planning a visit, contact ITS Holidays Ltd for help planning your Dhaka city tour alongside your visit to this iconic heritage site.